From the perspective of a neutral observer, the history of the Roman army and the archaeology of conflict may not be perceived as particularly groundbreaking subjects. However, it should be noted that the study of conflict has not constituted the primary focus of Roman archaeological research. For many decades, research in Roman archaeology has tended to either justify, ignore, or overlook the most violent dimension of conquest. This has been the case both in the context of military expansion and in relation to the coercion applied to vanquished populi. The authors are particularly well versed in these subjects and have presented this publication as a means of making these phenomena visible, bringing together different European contexts in which archaeology has shed light on Roman violence.

The first chapter provides an in-depth exploration of some of the most critical theoretical topics, emphasizing the most damaging aspect of conquest. They put forward an approach based on postcolonial and decolonial perspectives, incorporating innovative methodological approaches from the archaeology of conflict, which is currently underrepresented in Roman archaeology. The authors have set themselves a clear yet pivotal objective: to extend the scope of military studies beyond the Roman context by examining the impact of the conquest on the conquered populations. This requires a change in perspective, moving away from a focus on technological advancement and toward an analysis of coercion, violence, and power dynamics.

In accordance with the aforementioned points, four case studies are presented in detail in chapters 2 through 5. Each chapter begins with an overview of the military context of each case, followed by a discussion of the available written sources and an analysis of the social and political motivations that fueled the military attack. Once the historical context has been outlined, a review of the archaeological evidence is conducted, often following the data provided by classical texts. I found this to be a perceptive and acute approach. For one thing, it offers valuable insights into the context of Roman conflict evidence across Europe and encourages new ideas and visions by providing a broad and comparative vision of different contexts. Furthermore, it establishes a crucial link between textual and material sources, enabling the seamless transfer of information between these two disciplines and fostering collaboration between different research approaches.

The second chapter provides a comprehensive analysis of the social context, military motivation, and consequences of Julius Caesar’s campaigns in Gaul (59–51 BCE). One of the key features of this section is the comprehensive presentation of several archaeological contexts where evidence of genocide and mass violence can be observed. Evidence from sites such as Thuin and Kessel-Lith demonstrates the impact of war and the implementation of coercive strategies, not only during the course of military attacks but also after the conquest. The findings establish a clear correlation between the archaeological evidence and the existence of policies that classical sources have already indicated were genocidal, involved mass enslavement, and resulted in ethnocide.

The third chapter analyzes the conquest of the north of the Iberian Peninsula during the Cantabrian Wars (29–19 BCE). This section begins with a brief review of earlier conflicts in Iberia, such as the Second Punic War and the Sertorian Wars, both of which have interesting material records and revealing archaeological studies. The authors’ view of the Cantabrian Wars is excellent. They have brought together many of the recent advances in settlements such as Sasamón, La Loma, and Monte Bernorio. The authors have also provided a fluid view of the conflict with an efficient chronological narrative. It is not only useful and well written but also very accurate and up to date, providing one of the most insightful views of this conflict in terms of narrative accuracy and source comparison.

The fourth chapter analyzes the failed campaigns of Augustus at the Germanic Limes. The archaeological record is not as precise as in the other chapters, as material and chronological evidence is particularly scarce in this case. Nevertheless, it is of great interest as an example of a Roman limes where the military strategy did not achieve the desired objectives.

The fifth chapter is dedicated to the long-term Roman conquest of Britain. This is one of the regions of Europe with the most evidence of conflict. The authors give a detailed account of the campaigns of Julius Caesar, Claudius, and Agricola, without neglecting episodes such as Boudica’s rebellion. The authors draw various lines between these events and some archaeological contexts that could reflect them materially. Among various examples, the site of Ebbsfleet stands out as the possible first landing place of Julius Caesar’s army in 55 BCE. Some British fortified sites with evidence of conflict, such as Burnswark Hill, Cadbury Castle, and Hod Hill, also provide revealing insights into different moments of Roman attack.

The authors conclude with a reflection on the sources and methods they have used. Fernández-Götz and Roymans argue that the scarce (though consistent) references to violence in classical texts can have an archaeological reflection if we know how and where to look. Violence does not end with battles and conquests but continues to affect the structural foundations of culture and society, especially for the defeated communities.

Finally, it is worth noting that the authors have devoted a significant part of their research to the analysis of Roman military expansion in different regions of Europe. In this sense, the book can be seen as a recapitulation of prior research and can serve as a basis for future research. My personal opinion is that it is a very valuable work—not only because it boldly tackles one of the main problems in Roman archaeology (the application of paternalistic and justificatory approaches to the process of conquest), but also because it presents a large number of case studies that show how to trace Roman conflicts from an archaeological point of view. As a researcher used to dealing with the scarcity of evidence in conflict contexts, I find this input essential to seeing different ways of approaching their study. I should mention, however, that certain cases were only briefly described: as a reader, I was left wanting more about some very interesting archaeological contexts. However, I believe that this is due to the requirements of the editorial series (Cambridge University Press’ Elements in the Archaeology of Europe), which aims for short works and has certainly limited the length of its publications. In any case, the bibliography is extensive and wide-ranging, making it relatively easy to dig deeper into the most interesting case studies.

In conclusion, Archaeology of the Roman Conquest is an essential work for bringing to light the most damaging dimension of Roman military expansion. The authors have adeptly succeeded in bringing together a particularly large number of sites, making visible the progress of a complex archaeology of the Roman conflict. More importantly, however, they have brought these sites together under a point of view that is far removed from the usual sweetening of the Roman empire, understanding its expansion as an imperial and colonial strategy, with all the consequences that implies.